Gail D. Villanueva (holding the microphone) is the first Filipino to write a middle grade novel that was published by Scholastic US. The book "My Fate According To The Butterfly" was launched last 04 August 2019 in the Philippine Readers and Writers Festival held at Raffles Hotel.
Villanueva shared her writing and publishing journey with the audience. After 72 rejections from her first manuscript, she proceeded to write her second book in a period of one and a half months before receiving four offers of representation from various agents.
She said that she found her agent online and cited the website www.querytracker.net as a possible starting point for writers.
She also had writing mentors and went through several manuscript revisions before the final output.
The book is a middle grade contemporary set in Metro Manila amidst Duterte's drug war. Villanueva says that the theme revolves around family. But in the Philippines, that sole topic can become controversial.
For example, the chapter reading mentioned divorce that is currently a hot button issue in the Philippines. Parents are advised to understand the whole context of the book first before giving it to their grade school kids since it goes into controversial topics such as the ones mentioned above.
Villanueva's book launch included a reading of several chapters of the book. The author also signed the books of those who attended the event.
